Niner Noise
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Ranking 49ers 3 best candidates for No. 3 wide receiver

By Robert Morrison

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 18: Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a 2-yard touchdown catch during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on October 18, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Rams 24-16. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 18: Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a 2-yard touchdown catch during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on October 18, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Rams 24-16. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /
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Jalen Hurd, 49ers
Jalen Hurd #17 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

49ers Option No. 1: Jalen Hurd

In an ideal world, Jalen Hurd would stay healthy and there would be no need to have this discussion at all.

Hurd, whom the 49ers drafted in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, has yet to play a regular-season down for the team after suffering from back issues during what would have been his rookie campaign and tearing his ACL during training camp prior to last year.

All signs indicate that he’ll be ready for training camp this year, although you can imagine the team will opt to be careful with him to make sure he can actually play in 2021.

If he can stay healthy, his short stint during the 2019 preseason should give 49ers’ fans a glimpse of the kind of physicality that Hurd is capable of doling out and the moveable chess piece he can be for Shanahan’s offense.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=918111011872274

Hurd is a big guy who can move all around the offense, including lining up in the backfield as he did during his time in college at Tennessee, where he was exclusively a running back, before switching to receiver after transferring to Baylor. This would create a lot of problems for opposing defenses, making Hurd the ideal candidate to be San Francisco’s No. 3 wide receiver.

The only question now is whether Hurd can stay healthy enough to actually play in an NFL game. Sure, there may be growing pains once he’s in the lineup, but it would be an opportunity for him to make an impact on this team in 2021.

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If he can overcome his injury history, his role next to Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and the rest of the 49ers’ offensive weapons shouldn’t be in question.